£20 million project needed as Tweed "little known nationally"

by EWAN LAMB

An initiative aimed at attracting tens of thousands of extra visitors to the Scottish Borders is expected to progress further this week despite the looming threat of Coronavirus which threatens to bring the tourist industry to a standstill.

It is estimated that Destination Tweed, the name given to the ambitious project by Scottish Borders Council (SBC), the Tweed Forum and other partners, will cost £20 million to implement as part of the much vaunted Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

This week members of the influential Executive at SBC will be asked to sanction a contribution of £174,000 from council coffers to help with the initial phase of Destination Tweed.

A report to councillors claims: "Whilst the Tweed has an incredible array of natural, built and cultural heritage concentrated in and around its banks, it is little known at a national level.

"The rural economy is increasingly fragile, with the traditional industries such as textiles, farming and fishing being in decline. Tourism can be core to the region’s future and has huge potential. This project will showcase the extraordinary assets and experiences on offer."

The assertion that the Borders river has a low national profile is made even though the Tweed provides one of the richest and best known salmon angling facilities in the entire world.

This week's report from Rob Dickson, Executive Director at SBC provides the background to the Destination Tweed initiative,

He says: "This is a large scale strategic project that is aiming to join up an ambitious range of assets, facilities, businesses and activities. It has the potential to raise the visitor profile of the area nationally and internationally. 

"Currently, it is anticipated that the project will cost approximately £20 million, with £11 million being budgeted as part of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.  A shared use trail will connect Moffat to Berwick-upon-Tweed and beyond, providing a focal point for a wide range of conservation and enhancement projects throughout. 

"This cross-border approach helps to support the strategic nature of the project and make it relevant in a Borderlands context. Each year an estimated 375,000 visitors will enjoy the 100-mile route, underpinned by an innovative interpretive experience."

The various facets of the plan as outlined by Mr Dickson include the following possibilities: " The Tweed Trail giving users a complete and accessible experience from beyond the source to the sea, stretching from Moffat in Dumfries & Galloway to Berwick upon Tweed in Northumberland. 

"Archaeology projects that assess, interpret and inform the conservation of archaeological assets along the Tweed, uncovering new stories according to key themes that use the Tweed as a ‘timeline’.  The establishment of dedicated hub/launch points in each of the Upper, Middle, Lower sections to facilitate easy navigation of the Trail and knowledge sharing. For example, a restored Crook Inn could provide services like overnight accommodation, a café, volunteer base and interpretation in the more remote Upper sections. Economic focused projects that harness existing assets, building business awareness and confidence, cross-selling, resilience and new services and products." 

The council's Executive members are told that at the outset of project planning, Tweed Forum identified a funding package that represented both the numerous partners engaged in the project, but also the financial commitment required for the development phase of Destination Tweed.

Tweed Forum currently has an application being processed by the National lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to provide a further major contribution to the project costs (£2.98 million). 

"It is especially important that Scottish Borders Council demonstrates its commitment to the project in order to provide reassurance to funders like NLHF that the project will move forward and be delivered successfully.It is intended that the development phase of the project will run from March 2020 to March 2022".

The total cost of the development phase identified by Tweed Forum is £561,000. The match funding required from Scottish Borders Council is £174,500, which represents 31% of the overall cost of the development phase.

In a section of the report headed Risk and Mitigations it is claimed tourism development is a priority in the Scottish Borders Economic Strategy 2023 and in the Scottish Borders Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. 

"Product development is required to continue to develop the tourism sector and offer a level of support required to motivate and inspire businesses. The Council may suffer reputational damage if it does not show commitment to the development phase by declining to provide the required funding. In addition, if the development phase cannot be appropriately funded, then the project will not be able to progress, thus missing an opportunity for a major investment in the Scottish Borders."